Page 47 (2/2)

"I cannot control it, so don’t bitch" I felt a strange pulsing fro down The pressure was light right now, but it was getting stronger the closer we got

"‘Bitch’ counts as swearing, I’ to tell your "

He slowed as we neared the bottom of the hillside The trees thinned until they cleared out altogether, the last yards barren until the shielding spell touched ground

Now I could see the weave, tight and organized--it was solid and well put together, a real thing standing in our way

"There are a few spellsas he looked "The ward is a classic blood offering, like your father’s Another spell to make the place invisible, and the third…"

I closedthe vibrations and intents push at , like an iron gate co down at our necks, stabbed into my middle

"An attack of soetting were all connected soe "Obviously the secrecy is the ward Maybe the feeling of ate Like it’s spring-loaded, ready to pounce"

"Stupid" Emery made an exasperated sound "Of course If you don’t pass the ward, you suffer the price"

"Death, or…"

"Doubtful Pain, I would iine a hiker wandered down here You wouldn’t want to kill them or the human cops would be all over it You’d want to re the wiser"

As I studied the weave, I felt round, the trees, and the breeze rustling our hair Eled, and I watched what hethe ward?"

"Yes, but just enough to offer up our blood Put your hand up under my vest and touch my skin I need my other hand, but I don’t want to lose skin contact I’m not sure if I can hold my focus without your touch"

I did as he said, quickly, forcing ht leather and onto his s in a different way Creating a shadow to drape over us

I tried to follow both of his castings, but the as too advanced fortoo fast So instead, I letthe various throbs of energy and trying to pair them with the spells One persisted, not at all dispersed by his work It was the one I’d noticed earlier, high overhead It bore down on us, benign but insistent Magical pressure that didn’t seem to take a shape or cause a reaction from me

"Give me your hand"

I pushedout to the side where the collection of spells curved around, following the detour of the coer, quick and shallow, but the pressure fro is…" I squinted up at the sky I found a brief shi but clear skies stretched overhead

"Ready?" Eaze "What’s up?"

"I don’t know I feel soic or not It has no intent, but…it watches, I think"

"It watches…" He glanced from one side to the other, a contemplative expression on his face He shook his head and looked upward again "Should we keep going?"